That's a folk saying I've heard from time to time, and a wise one. I mean to have a great December, and what better way to begin than with a snowshoe hike? Even though circumstances are sometimes out of our control, and we all have a bad day (week, month ... husband with a broken ankle, yeah), ultimately we set the tone for our own lives.
Today's hike brought me to Watrous Gulch. I hadn't heard of this place until recently, which is ironic because it branches off the trail of one of my all-time favorite hikes, Herman Gulch. I've been here twice now, and I still have to go back. The first time, the snow got too deep for my little dog, so I turned around early. This time, it was snowing, so I didn't have a clear view of, well, the view. Third time's the charm, right?!
Even though I'm not a morning person (at all), I do try to start early enough to catch a sunrise. Today, there wasn't much of one, but even so, there is just something so peaceful about being outdoors at dawn. And here's why I'll probably never make a great photographer: a photographer would say "what a waste." Actually, they'd probably not even bother with the hike. A hiker, on the other hand, love, love, loves where she is, regardless of the photo ops. The lightly falling snow made for an overcast and gray day, but it was still beautiful.
Today's hike brought me to Watrous Gulch. I hadn't heard of this place until recently, which is ironic because it branches off the trail of one of my all-time favorite hikes, Herman Gulch. I've been here twice now, and I still have to go back. The first time, the snow got too deep for my little dog, so I turned around early. This time, it was snowing, so I didn't have a clear view of, well, the view. Third time's the charm, right?!
Even though I'm not a morning person (at all), I do try to start early enough to catch a sunrise. Today, there wasn't much of one, but even so, there is just something so peaceful about being outdoors at dawn. And here's why I'll probably never make a great photographer: a photographer would say "what a waste." Actually, they'd probably not even bother with the hike. A hiker, on the other hand, love, love, loves where she is, regardless of the photo ops. The lightly falling snow made for an overcast and gray day, but it was still beautiful.
I've been telling people since last winter that in many ways, I prefer snowshoeing to hiking. It's hard to explain, because for one, people look at me weird when I say it. And I love hiking. But snowshoeing in Colorado is incredibly rewarding.
1) Hardly anyone's on the trails. Blessed solitude!
2) White snow, blue sky, tall evergreens...what's not to love about that?
3) Major calorie burner. It's a fantastic workout!
4) So peaceful and quiet. It's healing.
Besides those and many other reasons, the word that came to my mind today was PURIFYING. It's a sense that I haven't exactly gotten from hiking, though close. You might get it from something else, like skiing or running or whatever, but that's what I feel. The crisp, clean air; the heavy-duty exercise; the beautiful and peaceful surrounds (with an edge of danger), the altitude ... it purifies the body and mind. It's something you can feel, so that by the time you return to your car, you're a little high on it. Guess that's what that old "Rocky Mountain High" means. It's a real thing!
1) Hardly anyone's on the trails. Blessed solitude!
2) White snow, blue sky, tall evergreens...what's not to love about that?
3) Major calorie burner. It's a fantastic workout!
4) So peaceful and quiet. It's healing.
Besides those and many other reasons, the word that came to my mind today was PURIFYING. It's a sense that I haven't exactly gotten from hiking, though close. You might get it from something else, like skiing or running or whatever, but that's what I feel. The crisp, clean air; the heavy-duty exercise; the beautiful and peaceful surrounds (with an edge of danger), the altitude ... it purifies the body and mind. It's something you can feel, so that by the time you return to your car, you're a little high on it. Guess that's what that old "Rocky Mountain High" means. It's a real thing!